SF Silent Film Festival 2014, our 19th, concluded on Sunday night June 1 with Buster Keaton's deliriously funny The Navigator accompanied by the Matti Bye Ensemble. It was the icing on the cake of a delicious weekend that started with Rudolph Valentino's scintillating tango in Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Opening night was accompanied by Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra who celebrated their 25th Anniversary together at the festival.

We were pleased to host many celebrated guests from around the world including Serge Bromberg from Lobster Films, Paris; Bryony Dixon from BFI, London; Martin Koerber from Deutsche Kinemathek in Berlin; Fernando Peña from Museo de Arte in Buenos Aires; Céline Ruivo from Cinémathèque Française, Paris; Patrick Stanbury from Photoplay, London; among many others! And delighted to welcome back our wonderful group of international musicians--Guenter Buchwald (Germany), Stephen Horne (UK), Matti Bye Ensemble (Sweden), Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra (US), and Donald Sosin (US). We were even able to bring two more musicians into the SFSFF fold this year--Frank Bockius (Germany) and Sascha Jacobsen (US).

And we are thrilled at the triumphant restoration of 1916's The Good Bad Man with Douglas Fairbanks, spearheaded by our very own Rob Byrne and Tracey Goessel with the Cinémathèque Française. Kevin Brownlow calls the restoration "practically perfect!"

2014 was our most ambitious Festival yet, with 19 programs featuring films from 7 different countries. Beautiful images accompanied by glorious music played live by supremely talented musicians, attended by superb audiences. Yes, thank you, our wonderful audience for making SFSFF possible!

And now's your chance to give us feedback. We'd love to hear what you have to say. Take our SHORT SURVEYHERE. You'll have the chance to win a prize!

In collaboration with SFSFF, our friends at MUBI are showing the Swedish classic The Saga of Gosta Berling, starring Greta Garbo with accompaniment by the Matti Bye Ensemble! Based in the Bay Area, MUBI is a global online platform (also on iPad and Android) for classic, international, and independent cinema, and they're offering an extended 30-day free trial to SFSFF film lovers. To see Garbo in one of her first roles-and much more!-you can sign up at mubi.com/sfsilent. There are many beautiful silents among their great selection of world cinema!

Today we are pleased to announce the Second Edition of The Chelsea Film Festival in New York City. This year’s Edition will be hosted at the SVA Theatre on October 16-19.

The submission deadline is Monday, June 17, so please feel free to submit your best film! The latest deadline for films is Friday, August 29. For more information, click here.

The Chelsea Film Festival program will highlight international feature-length, short films and documentaries from independent or emerging filmmakers. The second edition of the Chelsea Film Festival will focus on Global Issues, and will introduce local and foreign films to the public.

As Ingrid Jean-Baptiste, Founder of The Chelsea Film Festival, stated:

“Making the World a Better Place by Giving a Voice to the Unheard”

CFF was founded by actresses Ingrid & Sonia Jean-Baptiste to give voices to the unheard by providing a platform to independent films and discovering new talents.
Chelsea Film Festival Board of Directors consists of renowned industry professionals: Paul Calderon, Elizabeth Kemp, and John Patrick Shanley, who received a nomination for Best Play at the 2014 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8.

Stay tuned for future updates! You’ll be among the first to know about our exclusive New York Premieres, Jury members, and the Chelsea Film Festival Grand Prix winner!

Produced by the Atlantic Film Festival, the 14th annual AFF Outdoor Film Experience – Illuminated by Emera presents “Summer of Sandra”. The free outdoor film series is paying tribute to Oscar winning actor, Sandra Bullock, and five of her hit movies will be shown on Fridays, from July 18 to August 15, on the Halifax Waterfront.

Projected on a 30-foot inflatable screen at the end of the Halifax Waterfront’s Tall Ships Quay (near the Halifax Seaport Farmer’s Market), the schedule of films is as follows:

Friday, July 18: Gravity, 2013, 90min (Rated PG)
Friday, July 25: The Blind Side, 2009,129min (Rated PG)
Friday, August 1: Miss Congeniality, 2000, 109min (Rated PG)
Friday, August 8: Speed, 1994, 116min (Rated 14A)
Friday, August 15: People’s Choice vote between: While You Were Sleeping, Two If By Sea, Two Weeks Notice, and The Proposal.
*Fans can vote here: atlanticfilm.com starting July 1st, until noon, August 8th. The winning film will be announced just before the Speed screening.

Once again, the event will proudly screen an Atlantic Canadian produced short film as part of each pre-roll. This is a joint presentation with CBC, called Summer Shorts.

"There is nothing quite like the magic that happens at the AFF Outdoor Film Experience, said Wayne Carter, Executive Director of the Atlantic Film Festival. “We have been overwhelmed at the level of attendance these past few years as people of all ages from all over the region join us for these free screenings. Sandra Bullock is without a doubt the biggest female movie star in the world and we are so excited to be celebrating her work.”

Talented local illustrator, James White created the design and directed the look and feel of all the “Summer of Sandra” program signage and promotional material. T-shirts will be available for purchase at each screening.

Those attending the AFF Outdoor Film Experience – Illuminated by Emera are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for comfort. Concessions will be available on site.

Screenings start at dusk and gates will open one-hour prior. Please check for weather updates and cancellations at: atlanticfilm.com. There are no rain dates.

Thanks to Emera, all “Summer of Sandra” screenings are free all summer.

“Emera is thrilled to once again be partnering with the Atlantic Film Festival. The AFF Outdoor Film Experience has become such a popular event for our community,” says Chris Huskilson, President and CEO at Emera. “It means a lot to us to be able to provide support and offer a gathering place where people can enjoy movies and be part of this wonderful event”.

In addition to “Summer of Sandra”, the AFF Outdoor Film Experience is proud to also present the following movies in Halifax this summer:

Sunday, June 29: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 1986, 103min (Rated PG) at Sunnyside Mall, Bedford as part of Bedford Days
This screening is both a “bring your own chair” and a drive-in movie

Tuesday, July 1: Despicable Me, 2010, 95min (Rated G) at Kinsmen Park as part of Sackville Patriot Days

Saturday, August 3: Princess Bride, 1987, 98min (Rated PG) at Ferry Terminal Park, Dartmouth as part of Natal Days, hosted by the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission

Thursday, August 14: Il Était Une Fois Les Boys (When We Were Boys), 2013, 106min (Rated G) at Parade Square, City Hall, Halifax as part of The National Acadian Day Celebrations, hosted by the Conseil communautaire du Grand-Havre

Thursday, September 4: The Amazing Spider-Man 2, 2014, 142min (Rated PG) at Tall Ships Quay, Halifax Waterfront as part of the “End of Summer” series

Friday, September 5: The Lego Movie, 2014, 100min (Rated G) at Tall Ships Quay, Halifax Waterfront as part of the “End of Summer” series

Saturday, September 6: Frozen, 2013, 102min (Rated G) at Tall Ships Quay, Halifax Waterfront as part of the “End of Summer” series

*Admission is free and all screenings start at dusk with gates and concessions opening one-hour prior. Please check for weather updates and cancellations at: atlanticfilm.com

“Through the generous support of Emera and our other key sponsors we have been able to increase our Community Screening Program with more appearances in more places than ever before,” added Carter. “The AFF Outdoor Film Experience continues to grow beyond our Waterfront “Summer of…” program and we couldn’t be happier.”

The AFF Outdoor Film Experience is pleased to have the support of the following partners and suppliers: Emera, Halifax Seaport, Waterfront Development Corporation, CBC, Dimensions Entertainment, PODS, Starbucks, the Postman, Impact Communications, Discount Car and Truck Rentals and the Halifax Regional Municipality.

“The AFF Outdoor Film Experience is a wonderful summer tradition, an opportunity to spend an evening outside with friends, family and fantastic films,” said Mayor Mike Savage. “I encourage everyone to come out and see the stars, on the screen and in the sky.”

About the AFF Outdoor Film Experience

Who can resist a night under the stars with a classic movie and the smell of popcorn wafting through the air? Whether young or old, local or visiting, the AFF Outdoor Film Experience fits the bill for good times.

It’s outdoors. It’s movies. It’s an unforgettable experience!

For the past 13 years, on Friday nights from mid-July to the end of August, the Atlantic Film Festival has delivered an entertaining outdoor film experience throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality – a larger-than-life inflatable screen showing classic movies under the open sky. With as many as 2000+ movie-goers coming together for each screening – all toting their lawn chairs, blankets, picnics and favourite company – this open-air cinema has a unique festival atmosphere that must be experienced first-hand.

Our programmers are constantly dreaming up an engaging theme for the next series. In recent years, our Summer of … theme has been very popular. People are always trying to guess what it will be!

While the theme changes from one year to the next, the objective remains: to bring the community together; to enjoy the film viewing experience in unique outdoor settings; and to set the stage for the upcoming Atlantic Film Festival.

About the Atlantic Film Festival
The Atlantic Film Festival (AFF) is an eight-day celebration of film, media and music from around the world. It’s a festival that turns Halifax – a charming and historic coastal city – into an international Mecca for the arts, abuzz with filmmakers, industry types and film lovers. This year’s event takes place from September 11-18.

Offering a first-look at the best international films of the festival season, the AFF is a champion of local filmmakers, committed to bridging the gap. We attract some of the biggest players in film, media and music from around the world. All of our film selections are chosen with our community in mind and our special events are designed to bring us all together. A not-for-profit organization, the AFF depends heavily upon its strong ties to the surrounding and thriving arts community.

The Atlantic Film Festival began as a tiny, grassroots operation in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1981, relocating to Halifax the following year. Just three decades later, the Atlantic film Festival has blossomed into one of Canada’s premier film festivals. Whether for industry folk, unabashed film lovers or curious onlookers, the Festival offers a slew of opportunities to engage through film. Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our eight-day cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, AFF Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners.

This year, the interfilm - International Short Film Festival will celebrate its 30th anniversary, from 11 – 16 November! We’ll present around 500 short films in nine competitions and special programmes in six festival days, as well as get you dancing and partying at loads of extra events!

The interfilm - International Short Film Festival Berlin was founded in Berlin-Kreuzberg in 1982 as a Super-8 film festival, and after Oberhausen, it is not only the oldest short film festival in Germany but also the oldest and biggest film festival in Berlin, after the Berlinale.

This anniversary year sees the addition of three new competitions – one that looks to the past and another to the future! The Mauersegler Short Film Award seeks personal insights into the events surrounding the Peaceful Revolution in East Germany and the reunification of Germany.
While the Film Award EUROPE: UNLIMITED addresses the idea of Europe. “Does Europe exist and if so, how many are there?”, is the question posed by the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities in cooperation with interfilm Berlin, as part of the Academy’s topic of the year for 2013/14 “future place: EUROPE”. And: The CAR SHORT Competition concentrates on the themes car and mobility.

In addition, short films will also compete in the following categories: International Competition, Confrontations (Human Rights), Documentary Competition, German Competition, Green Screen (environmental-film) Competition, eject – The Long Night of Odd Films and the Viral Video Award.

The Foreign Focuses at this year’s festival are dedicated to shorts from Japan and Norway. The spotlight on Japan promises to deliver a complex impression of tensions in these times of nuclear catastrophes, financial crises and the dramatic rise of the elderly populace. Norwegian short film on the other hand, has long been appreciated for its ‘out of the ordinary’ quality. Quirky, absurd, irritating, provocative – the International Short Film Festival interfilm Berlin will celebrate the intense nature of Norwegian short filmmaking.

Adelaide is set to shake off some of its winter chill with the launch of the city's newest and most fabulous film festival, the Feast Film Festival, heating up the Mercury Cinema over two weekends from June 27 to July 6.

Featuring 17 of the best gay, lesbian and queer films from Australia and around the world, including four Australian premieres and 13 films never before screened in South Australia, this will be the first time Adelaide's gay and lesbian cultural festival Feast (running November 15-30) has staged its film program as a mid-year standalone event.

Kicking off in an explosion of sequins and glitter the Feast Film Festival will open on Friday, June 27 with a screening of Australian smash hit comedy The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, followed by a wild opening night Priscilla party featuring DJ Josh.

Highlights of the two-week program include the Australian premieres of comedy Such Good People starring Star Wars and Mission Impossible II actor Kee Chan, who will be present for a post-screening Q&A session, coming of age story Boy Meets Girl featuring Twilight star Michael Welch, lesbian romance Tru Love and documentary To Be Takei, about beloved Star Trek actor turned gay rights activist and internet phenomenon George Takei.

Adelaide premieres include Brazilian biopic Reaching for the Moon starring Miranda Otto as Pulitzer Prize winning American poet Elizabeth Bishop, outrageous comedy Who's Afraid of Vagina Wolf starring Carrie Preston (True Blood) and Janina Gavankar (The L Word), Australian documentary Out in the Line-Up which explores the taboos of homosexuality in surfing and award-winning love story Free Fall, hailed as the “German Brokeback Mountain” for its touching portrayal of a forbidden love between two police officers.

“The Feast Film Festival program is diverse in style, genre and subject matter with films from all around the globe, but the one binding feature is that they remind us of our humanity and of our need for love, laughter, empathy and compassion - as well as to sometimes be darn right silly,” Feast artistic director Catherine Fitzgerald said.

“Winter is a wonderful time to snuggle down in the cinema, open our hearts and minds and focus a lens on different worlds.

“I am so excited to be able to bring these fabulous LGBITQ films to Adelaide for everyone to enjoy in this brand new winter film festival.”

Tickets are on sale now via Feastix online at www.feast.org.au, via phone on (08) 8463 0684 or in person at the Feast box office at the Lion Arts Centre, corner of Morphett St and North Tce, Adelaide, Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 5pm.

Sundance Institute this evening announced the Jury, Audience and other special awards of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival at the feature film Awards Ceremony, hosted by Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally, in Park City, Utah.

The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Tracy Chapman to:Rich Hill / U.S.A. (Directors: Andrew Droz Palermo, Tracy Droz Tragos) — In a rural, American town, kids face heartbreaking choices, find comfort in the most fragile of family bonds, and dream of a future of possibility.

The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented by Leonard Maltin to:Whiplash / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Damien Chazelle) — Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity. Cast: Miles Teller, JK Simmons.

The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Andrea Nix Fine to:Return to Homs / Syria, Germany (Director: Talal Derki) — Basset Sarout, the 19-year-old national football team goalkeeper, becomes a demonstration leader and singer, and then a fighter. Ossama, a 24-year-old renowned citizen cameraman, is critical, a pacifist, and ironic until he is detained by the regime's security forces.

The World Cinema Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic was presented by Nansun Shi to:To Kill a Man / Chile, France (Director and screenwriter: Alejandro Fernández Almendras) — When Jorge, a hardworking family man who's barely making ends meet, gets mugged by Kalule, a neighborhood delinquent, Jorge's son decides to confront the attacker, only to get himself shot. Even though Jorge's son nearly dies, Kalule's sentence is minimal, heightening the friction. Cast: Daniel Candia, Daniel Antivilo, Alejandra Yañez, Ariel Mateluna.

The Audience Award: U.S. Documentary Presented by Acura, was presented by William H. Macy to:Alive Inside: A Story of Music & Memory / U.S.A. (Director: Michael Rossato-Bennett) — Five million Americans suffer from Alzheimer's disease and dementia—many of them alone in nursing homes. A man with a simple idea discovers that songs embedded deep in memory can ease pain and awaken these fading minds. Joy and life are resuscitated, and our cultural fears over aging are confronted.

The Audience Award: U.S. Dramatic Presented by Acura, was presented by William H. Macy to:Whiplash / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Damien Chazelle) — Under the direction of a ruthless instructor, a talented young drummer begins to pursue perfection at any cost, even his humanity. Cast: Miles Teller, JK Simmons.

The Audience Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented by Felicity Huffman to:The Green Prince / Germany, Israel, United Kingdom (Director: Nadav Schirman ) — This real-life thriller tells the story of one of Israel’s prized intelligence sources, recruited to spy on his own people for more than a decade. Focusing on the complex relationship with his handler, The Green Prince is a gripping account of terror, betrayal, and unthinkable choices, along with a friendship that defies all boundaries.

The Audience Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented by Felicity Huffman to:Difret / Ethiopia (Director and screenwriter: Zeresenay Berhane Mehari) — Meaza Ashenafi is a young lawyer who operates under the government's radar helping women and children until one young girl's legal case exposes everything, threatening not only her career but her survival. Cast: Meron Getnet, Tizita Hagere.

The Audience Award:Best of NEXT <=> was presented by Nick Offerman to:Imperial Dreams / U.S.A. (Director: Malik Vitthal, Screenwriters: Malik Vitthal, Ismet Prcic) — A 21-year-old, reformed gangster's devotion to his family and his future are put to the test when he is released from prison and returns to his old stomping grounds in Watts, Los Angeles. Cast: John Boyega, Rotimi Akinosho, Glenn Plummer, Keke Palmer, De'aundre Bonds.

The Directing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented by Morgan Neville to:Ben Cotner & Ryan White for The Case Against 8 / U.S.A. (Directors: Ben Cotner, Ryan White) — A behind-the-scenes look inside the case to overturn California's ban on same-sex marriage. Shot over five years, the film follows the unlikely team that took the first federal marriage equality lawsuit to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented by Sally Riley to:Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard for 20,000 Days On Earth / United Kingdom (Directors: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard) — Drama and reality combine in a fictitious 24 hours in the life of musician and international culture icon Nick Cave. With startlingly frank insights and an intimate portrayal of the artistic process, this film examines what makes us who we are and celebrates the transformative power of the creative spirit.

The Directing Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented by Sebastián Lelio to:Sophie Hyde for 52 Tuesdays / Australia (Director: Sophie Hyde, Screenplay and story by: Matthew Cormack, Story by: Sophie Hyde) — Sixteen-year-old Billie’s reluctant path to independence is accelerated when her mother reveals plans for gender transition, and their time together becomes limited to Tuesdays. This emotionally charged story of desire, responsibility, and transformation was filmed over the course of a year—once a week, every week, only on Tuesdays. Cast: Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Del Herbert-Jane, Imogen Archer, Mario Späte, Beau Williams, Sam Althuizen.

The Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented by Peter Saraf to:Craig Johnson & Mark Heyman for The SkeletonTwins / U.S.A. (Director: Craig Johnson, Screenwriters: Craig Johnson, Mark Heyman) — When estranged twins Maggie and Milo feel that they’re at the end of their ropes, an unexpected reunion forces them to confront why their lives went so wrong. As the twins reconnect, they realize the key to fixing their lives may just lie in repairing their relationship. Cast: Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Luke Wilson, Ty Burrell, Boyd Holbrook, Joanna Gleason.

The Screenwriting Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented by Sebastián Lelio to:Eskil Vogt for Blind / Norway, Netherlands (Director and screenwriter: Eskil Vogt) — Having recently lost her sight, Ingrid retreats to the safety of her home—a place she can feel in control, alone with her husband and her thoughts. But Ingrid's real problems lie within, not beyond the walls of her apartment, and her deepest fears and repressed fantasies soon take over. Cast: Ellen Dorrit Petersen, Henrik Rafaelsen, Vera Vitali, Marius Kolbenstvedt.

The Editing Award: U.S. Documentary was presented by Jonathan Oppenheim to:Jenny Golden, Karen Sim for Watchers of theSky / U.S.A. (Director: Edet Belzberg) — Five interwoven stories of remarkable courage from Nuremberg to Rwanda, from Darfur to Syria, and from apathy to action.

The Editing Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented by Sally Riley to:Jonathan Amos for 20,000 Days On Earth / United Kingdom (Directors: Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard) — Drama and reality combine in a fictitious 24 hours in the life of musician and international culture icon Nick Cave. With startlingly frank insights and an intimate portrayal of the artistic process, this film examines what makes us who we are and celebrates the transformative power of the creative spirit.

The Cinematography Award: U.S. Documentary was presented by Kahane Cooperman to:Rachel Beth Anderson, Ross Kauffman for E-TEAM / U.S.A. (Directors: Katy Chevigny, Ross Kauffman) — E-TEAM is driven by the high-stakes investigative work of four intrepid human rights workers, offering a rare look at their lives at home and their dramatic work in the field.

The Cinematography Award: U.S. Dramatic was presented by Peter Saraf to:Christopher Blauvelt for Low Down / U.S.A. (Director: Jeff Preiss, Screenwriters: Amy-Jo Albany, Topper Lilien) — Based on Amy-Jo Albany's memoir, Low Down explores her heart-wrenching journey to adulthood while being raised by her father, bebop pianist Joe Albany, as he teeters between incarceration and addiction in the urban decay and waning bohemia of Hollywood in the 1970s. Cast: John Hawkes, Elle Fanning, Glenn Close, Lena Headey, Peter Dinklage, Flea.

The Cinematography Award: World Cinema Documentary was presented by Caspar Sonnen to:Thomas Balmès & Nina Bernfeld for Happiness / France, Finland (Director: Thomas Balmès) — Peyangki is a dreamy and solitary eight-year-old monk living in Laya, a Bhutanese village perched high in the Himalayas. Soon the world will come to him: the village is about to be connected to electricity, and the first television will flicker on before Peyangki's eyes.

The Cinematography Award: World Cinema Dramatic was presented by Carlo Chatrian to:Ula Pontikos for Lilting / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Hong Khaou) — The world of a Chinese mother mourning the untimely death of her son is suddenly disrupted by the presence of a stranger who doesn't speak her language. Lilting is a touching and intimate film about finding the things that bring us together. Cast: Ben Whishaw, Pei-Pei Cheng, Andrew Leung, Peter Bowles, Naomi Christie, Morven Christie.

A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Use of Animation was presented by Charlotte Cook to:Watchers of theSky / U.S.A. (Director: Edet Belzberg) — Five interwoven stories of remarkable courage from Nuremberg to Rwanda, from Darfur to Syria, and from apathy to action.

A U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Intuitive Filmmaking was presented by Charlotte Cook to:The Overnighters / U.S.A. (Director: Jesse Moss) — Desperate, broken men chase their dreams and run from their demons in the North Dakota oil fields. A local Pastor's decision to help them has extraordinary and unexpected consequences.

A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Musical Score was presented by Dana Stevens to:The Octopus Project for Kumiko, the TreasureHunter/ U.S.A. (Director: David Zellner, Screenwriters: David Zellner, Nathan Zellner) — A lonely Japanese woman becomes convinced that a satchel of money buried in a fictional film is, in fact, real. Abandoning her structured life in Tokyo for the frozen Minnesota wilderness, she embarks on an impulsive quest to search for her lost mythical fortune. Cast: Rinko Kikuchi.

A U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award for Breakthrough Talent was presented by Dana Stevens to:Justin Simien for Dear White People/ U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Justin Simien) — Four black students attend an Ivy League college where a riot breaks out over an “African American” themed party thrown by white students. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film explores racial identity in postracial America while weaving a story about forging one's unique path in the world. Cast: Tyler Williams, Tessa Thompson, Teyonah Parris, Brandon Bell.

A World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for the Delightful Ensemble Performance, and How the Director Brought His Own Unique Universe into Cinema was presented by Carlo Chatrian to:God Help the Girl / United Kingdom (Director and screenwriter: Stuart Murdoch) — This musical from Stuart Murdoch of Belle & Sebastian is about some messed up boys and girls and the music they made. Cast: Emily Browning, Olly Alexander, Hannah Murray, Pierre Boulanger, Cora Bissett.

A World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematic Bravery was presented by Caspar Sonnen to:We Come as Friends / France, Austria (Director: Hubert Sauper) — We Come as Friends is a modern odyssey, a science fiction–like journey in a tiny homemade flying machine into the heart of Africa. At the moment when the Sudan, Africa's biggest country, is being divided into two nations, a "civilizing" pathology transcends the headlines—colonialism, imperialism, and yet-another holy war over resources.

The Short Film Audience Award, Presented by YouTube, based on web traffic for 15 short films that screened at the Festival and were concurrently featured on www.youtube.com/sff, was presented to:Chapel Perilous / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Matthew Lessner) — Levi Gold is paid an unexpected visit by Robin, a door-to-door salesman with nothing to sell. The ensuing encounter forces Levi to confront his true mystical calling, and the nature of reality itself. A metaphysical comedy trip-out with Sun Araw.

The following awards were presented at separate ceremonies at the Festival:

Jury prizes and honorable mentions in short filmmaking were presented at a ceremony in Park City, Utah on January 21. The Short Film Grand Jury Prize was awarded to Of God and Dogs / Syrian Arab Republic (Director: Abounaddara Collective). The Short Film Jury Award: U.S. Fiction was presented to Gregory Go Boom / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Janicza Bravo). The Short Film Jury Award: International Fiction was presented to The Cut / Canada (Director and screenwriter: Geneviève Dulude-Decelles). The Short Film Jury Award: Non-fiction was presented to I Think This Is the Closest to How the Footage Looked / Israel (Directors: Yuval Hameiri, Michal Vaknin). The Short Film Jury Award: Animation was presented to Yearbook / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Bernardo Britto). A Short Film Special Jury Award for Unique Vision was presented to Rat Pack Rat / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Todd Rohal). A Short Film Special Jury Award for Non-fiction was presented to Love. Love. Love. / Russia (Director: Sandhya Daisy Sundaram). A Short Film Special Jury Award for Direction and Ensemble Acting was presented to Burger / United Kingdom, Norway (Director and screenwriter: Magnus Mork).

The winning directors and projects of the Sundance Institute | Mahindra Global Filmmaking Awards, in recognition and support of emerging independent filmmakers from around the world, are: Hong Khaou, Monsoon (Vietnam/UK); Tobias Lindholm, A War (Denmark); Ashlee Page,Archive (Australia); and Neeraj Ghaywan, Fly Away Solo (India).

The Sundance Institute/NHK Award, honoring and supporting emerging filmmakers, was presented to Mark Rosenberg, director of the upcoming film Ad Inexplorata.

The 2014 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, presented to outstanding feature films focusing on science or technology as a theme, or depicting a scientist, engineer or mathematician as a major character, was presented to I Origins, directed and written by Mike Cahill. The film received a $20,000 cash award from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.

The 2014 Festival presented 121 feature-length films, representing 37 countries and 54 first-time filmmakers, including 35 in competition. These films were selected from 12,218 submissions (72 more than for 2013), including 4,057 feature-length films and 8,161 short films. Of the feature film submissions, 2,014 were from the U.S. and 2,043 were international. 100 feature films at the Festival were world premieres.

The 2014 Festival runs through January 26 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden and Sundance, Utah. A complete list of films and events is available at www.sundance.org/festival.

The Sundance Film Festival®
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2014, the Festival has introduced global audiences to some of the most groundbreaking films of the past three decades, including Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station, Little Miss Sunshine, An Education, sex, lies, and videotape, Reservoir Dogs,The Cove, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, An Inconvenient Truth, Precious, and Napoleon Dynamite, and through its New Frontier initiative, has showcased the cinematic works of media artists including Isaac Julien, Doug Aitken, Pierre Huyghe, Jennifer Steinkamp, and Matthew Barney. The Festival is a program of the non-profit Sundance Institute®. 2014 Festival sponsors include: Presenting Sponsors – HP, Acura, Sundance Channel and Chase Sapphire Preferred®; Leadership Sponsors – Airbnb, DIRECTV, Entertainment Weekly, LensCrafters, Southwest Airlines, Sprint and YouTube; Sustaining Sponsors – Adobe, Canada Goose, Canon U.S.A., Inc., Brita® FilterForGood®, in partnership with Nalgene®, Hilton HHonors and Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Ketel One Vodka, L'Oréal Paris, MorningStar Farms®, Omnicom, Quaker Oats Company, Stella Artois® and Time Warner Inc. Sundance Institute recognizes critical support from the Utah Governor's Office of Economic Development, and the State of Utah as Festival Host State. The support of these organizations helps offset the Festival’s costs and sustain the Institute's year-round programs for independent film and theatre artists. www.sundance.org/festival

Sundance Institute
Founded by Robert Redford in 1981, Sundance Institute is a global, nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to nurturing artistic expression in film and theater, and to supporting intercultural dialogue between artists and audiences. The Institute promotes independent storytelling to unite, inform and inspire, regardless of geo-political, social, religious or cultural differences. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival and its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, film composers, playwrights and theatre artists, Sundance Institute has nurtured such projects as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station, Sin Nombre, An Inconvenient Truth, Spring Awakening, Born into Brothels, Trouble the Water, Light in the Piazza and Angels in America. Join Sundance Institute on Facebook,Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

Sundance Institute
Sundance Institute is a global nonprofit organization founded by Robert Redford in 1981. Through its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, composers and playwrights, the Institute seeks to discover and support independent film and theatre artists from the United States and around the world, and to connect audiences to their work. The Institute promotes independent storytelling as art and as a compelling and powerful way to inform, inspire and unite people. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Institute has supported such projects as Beasts of the Southern Wild, Fruitvale Station, Sin Nombre, The Invisible War, The Square, Dirty Wars, Spring Awakening, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder and Fun Home. Join Sundance Instituteon Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

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What is TELETOON TV Network VP Carole Bonneau looking for at Annecy 2014? " In Conversation" with Laurie Gordon for Filmfestivals.com, Carole tells us what TELETOON is seeking and why it is important to stay connected to emerging talent. Top Teletoon shows: TOP SHOWS MAX STEEL ULTIMATE SPIDERMAN ADVENTURE TIME DETENTIONAIRE Hulk and the Agents of SMASH AVENGERS ASSEMBLE SKATOONY AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL ANGRY BIRDS 6TEEN TOP GAMES REGULAR SHOW - PARK STRIKERS GRAV...

During the Festival and its Market, Ecoprod is going to broadcast a promotional clip to raise awareness about eco-friendly approaches to filmmaking. Nicolas Deveaux directed the film La Girafe et le Pique-bœuf (The Giraffe and the Oxpecker), produced by Cube Creative Productions featuring a giraffe and an oxpecker who discuss filmmaking before bringing up the topic of eco-production. With the support of the Mifa, a visibility campaign will be organised for the ...

Annecy 2014 has BEGUN! Screenings animation fans and industry people are abuzz lining up for accreditation and we're off to the races. Last night Le Cafe des Arts on the eve of the fest was full of the up and coming festival who's who and who' s not all in great spirit full of laughs and good humour. The lesser known elements of Annecy includes this wonderful hidden stone laden square in the middle of a Medieval city lopsided ancient grounds of which unbalanced animat...

Business Connecting with the Public from the Production Phase: Keys to Success for a Brilliant Distribution Animated features demand an enormous amount of time and money to produce, and it's too late to fix many common problems once the film is completed. How can creative teams position themselves for success by taking the audience's expectations into account from the very ...

"Syrinx" is the short animated film 24 year old Ryan Larkin created as a young animation director/genius recognized by none other than Norman McLaren who's 100th year is being celebrated at this year's Annecy Animation Film Festival. Here's a taste of animation art at it's most poetic. It means so much for me since I worked with Ryan and produced his last film. Syrinx from National Film Board of Canada on Vimeo. ...

Discover the Annecy poster for 2014 "I wanted to pay tribute to stop motion in creating this poster as the technique is in the spotlight at this year’s Festival. It also has a very personal significance, as my first short, made in stop motion, was rewarded with the Junior Jury Award at Annecy exactly ten years ago in 2004. It’s the layout of Annecy, situated between lake and mountains, that inspired the idea of the Capricorn, this fabulous h...

The first ever crowd funding campaign to come out of Kyrgyzstan has been launched through Indiegogo. The black comedy, titled ‘LENIN?!’ from award-winning Kyrgyz writer/director Marat Alykulov follows three punk boys who steal a statue of Lenin to sell on the black market and almost start a revolution in the process. It is the first crowd funding campaign to come out of Central Asia. The ‘Help Bury LENIN?!’ campaign is also the fir...

> PARTNERS NEWS

VFF is proud to announce that its Call for Entries for our 2015 film festival is now open! Earlier is better! (And cheaper.) Send in your entries to the 2015 VFF before the Earlybird deadline of July 9th. Additional Deadlines are: Regular postmark deadline: August 7th, 2014 Late postmark deadline: September 11th, 2014 Extended Deadline: September 17th, 2014 As always, we recommend submitting as early as possible and we set our fees to reflect this...

The Calgary International Film Festival (15 Annual September 18 - September 28, 2014) is an 11-day showcase of over 200 multi-genre films from Canada and over 40 other countries. We program feature films, documentaries, and short films of all genres. In addition to our regular programming, we have a competitive award series (“DISCOVERY”) for emerging feature length fiction filmmakers. CIFF exists to transform the way visual stories are shared and experienced. We champion filmmakers, especially new voices, for the delight and benefit of the audience, to whom we are a guide and provider of the best stories, presented within a remarkable festival environment.

The Arab Film Festival is now accepting submissions for the 18th Annual Arab Film Festival to be held in the San Francisco Bay Area in October 2014. AFF annually showcases works by independent filmmakers that provide insightful and innovative perspectives on Arab people, culture, art, history and politics.
The Arab Film Festival is the largest independent annual showcase of Arab films and filmmakers in the country. The festival has an international standing and is considered one of the most important Arab film festivals outside the Arab world. AFF strives to present the best contemporary films that provide insight into the beauty, complexity and diversity of the Arab world alongside realistic perspectives on Arab people, culture, art, history and politics. To submit please visit the Call for Entries page.
Late Deadline June 13

The Vancouver International Film Festival has long been one of the largest and most successful film festivals in North America. Last year, 341 films played on nine screens in seven venues. By the time our 16-day festival had wrapped, 130,000 attendees had been dazzled by the top films from more than 75 countries. Plus: VIFF offered$19,500 in cash prizes plus another $25,000 in services and prize packs to filmmakers as part of five adjudicated awards. The 2014 festival promises to be even more spectacular!

> THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT

Sundance Institute this evening announced the Jury, Audience and other special awards of the 2014 Sundance Film Festival at the feature film Awards Ceremony, hosted by Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally, in Park City, Utah. The U.S. Grand Jury Prize: Documentary was presented by Tracy Chapman to: Rich Hill / U.S.A. (Directors: Andrew Droz Palermo, Tracy Droz Tragos) — In a rural, American town, kids face heartbreaking choices, find comfort in the most fragile of family bond...

Adelaide is set to shake off some of its winter chill with the launch of the city's newest and most fabulous film festival, the Feast Film Festival, heating up the Mercury Cinema over two weekends from June 27 to July 6. Featuring 17 of the best gay, lesbian and queer films from Australia and around the world, including four Australian premieres and 13 films never before screened in South Australia, this will be the first time Adelaide's gay and lesbian cultural festival Feast (...

This year, the interfilm - International Short Film Festival will celebrate its 30th anniversary, from 11 – 16 November! We’ll present around 500 short films in nine competitions and special programmes in six festival days, as well as get you dancing and partying at loads of extra events! The interfilm - International Short Film Festival Berlin was founded in Berlin-Kreuzberg in 1982 as a Super-8 film festival, and after Oberhausen, it is not only the oldest short film festival ...

Produced by the Atlantic Film Festival, the 14th annual AFF Outdoor Film Experience – Illuminated by Emera presents “Summer of Sandra”. The free outdoor film series is paying tribute to Oscar winning actor, Sandra Bullock, and five of her hit movies will be shown on Fridays, from July 18 to August 15, on the Halifax Wa...

Today we are pleased to announce the Second Edition of The Chelsea Film Festival in New York City. This year’s Edition will be hosted at the SVA Theatre on October 16-19. The submission deadline is Monday, June 17, so please feel free to submit your best film! The latest deadline for films is Friday, August 29. For more information, click here. The Chelsea Film Festival program will highlight international feature-length, short films and documentaries from independent...

The 35th Durban International Film Festival (July 17 to 27) is proud to present the 7th edition of Talents Durban (formerly named Talent Campus Durban) – a skills sharing, development and networking platform or emerging filmmakers from Africa. Talents Durban is presented in collaboration with the Berlinale Talents programme of the Berlinale Film Festival with support from the KZN Film Commission, German Embassy, Goethe Institute and Gauteng Film Commission. Talents Durban, along with the...

41st Telluride Film Festival presented by National Film Preserve LTD., proudly announces visual artist Christian Marclay as its 2014 poster artist. Telluride Film Festival’s prestigious annual gathering for film industry insiders, cinema enthusiasts, filmmakers and critics takes place every Labor Day weekend in the picturesque town of Telluride, Colorado. The 41st edition of TFF will run August 29 through September 1, 2014. Over the past 30 years, Christian Marclay has explored the fu...

On the recommendation of their therapist, a married couple spends a weekend away at a vacation home, where their romantic rekindling takes a turn for the surreal. This sophisticated blend of relationship drama and "Twilight Zone" twists features outstanding performances from Mark Duplass (Safety Not Guaranteed) and Elisabeth Moss ("Mad Men"). Actors Elisabeth Moss and Mark Duplass in attendance for the Closing Night Gala of #SIFForty, featuring THE ONE I LOVE...

The APICA, an association for the promotion of images, creation, and the arts, based in French Polynesia organizes from November 8th to 16th, 2014 the second edition of the International Festival of Short Fiction Films from the Islands of the World: Courts des îles, in Papeete, Tahiti (French Polynesia). Entering the “Courts des îles” Festival Only a film whose director was born on an island may be in competition at the Courts des îles Festival. Registrations f...

Tribeca Film Institute® (TFI) and Gucci today announced the 2014 grant recipients for the Gucci Tribeca Documentary Fund. The Fund provides production and finishing finances, along with year-round support and guidance to feature-length documentary films that highlight and humanize critical domestic and international social issues. Nine projects have been selected from 560 submissions from more than 50 countries to receive a total of $150,000 in grants, to be administered by Tribeca Film ...

Dutch film REGRET! Wins Young Audience Award Children Juries in 17 European Cities Elect Dutch Film by Dave Schram More than 1,000 film fans across Europe participated in this year’s EFA Young Audience Award. The third edition of the European Film Academy’s initiative for 12-14-year-olds included screenings of the three nominated films in a total of 17 cities: Aalborg (Denmark), Barcelona (Spain), Belgrade (Serbia), Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest ...

All award winners of the 30th Hamburg International ShortFilmFestival and the 16th Mo&Friese Children’s ShortFilmFestival Hamburg The juries and the audiences have made their decisions. At the award ceremony at the Halle 5 of the festival centre Kolbenhof, the winners of the 30th Hamburg International Short Film Festival will be awarded. The main award, the Hamburg Short Film Award for the International Competition, goes to Joel Wanek’s ›Sun Song‹. I...

The 40th Seattle International Film Festival, the largest and most highly attended film festival in the United States, today announced the winners of the SIFF 2014 Golden Space Needle and Competition Awards. The awards were presented at a ceremony and brunch held at the Space Needle. The 25-day festival, which began May 15, featured 452 films representing 83 countries, including 44 World Premieres (20 features, 24 shorts), 30 North American Premieres (22 features,...

The 4th edition of Rio's International Uranium Film Festival has honored the year’s winners during an awarding ceremony at the Modern Art Museum Cinemateque. 13 “atomic” documentaries and movies from 11 countries - Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Poland, Turkey, UK, and Ukraine - received five Yellow Oscars and eight Special Recognitions. The International Uranium Film Festival Rio de Janeiro is dedicated to all films about nuclear power, ...

> PEOPLE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

What is TELETOON TV Network VP Carole Bonneau looking for at Annecy 2014? " In Conversation" with Laurie Gordon for Filmfestivals.com, Carole tells us what TELETOON is seeking and why it is important to stay connected to emerging talent. Top Teletoon shows: TOP SHOWS MAX STEEL ULTIMATE SPIDERMAN ADVENTURE TIME DETENTIONAIRE Hulk and the Agents of SMASH AVENGERS ASSEMBLE SKATOONY AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL ANGRY BIRDS 6TEEN TOP GAMES REGULAR SHOW - PARK STRIKERS GRAV...

Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) is delighted to reveal details of 2014’s Juries: the Michael Powell Award Competition Jury; the International Competition Jury; the Documentary Competition Jury; the Short Film Competition Jury and the Student Critics Jury. The Jury for the Michael Powell Award Competition for Best British Feature Film: Amos Gitai (Director; Chair) Nina Hoss (Actor) Michael Smiley (Actor/Writer/Comedian) The Michael Powell Award was inaugurated at...

A New Kind of Energy EFA Chairwoman Agnieszka Holland talks about her visions and ideas for the EFA. You have been elected as head of the EFA Board – that’s the first time the post goes to a filmmaker from Eastern Europe and the first time it goes to a woman! Is this the beginning of a new era? I would like to give some kind of new perspective and energy to the Academy. It's not so easy. To extend our activity we need more money and more involvement of younger members ...

European Filmmakers Express Worry About Fate of Ukrainian Filmmaker Oleg Sentsov Upon an initiative by the Board of the European Film Academy, an illustrious group of European film professionals has signed the following letter to the the Russian authorities: To Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin - President of Russia Sergey Evgenyevich Naryshkin – Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation ...

ASGHAR FARHADI ANNOUNCED AS PRESIDENT OF 8th ANNUAL APSA INTERNATIONAL JURY Image: Asghar Farhadi at the 2011 Asia Pacific Screen Awards. APSA is pleased to announce long time APSA Academy member and internationally renowned Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi as President of the International Jury for the 2014 Awards in December. A three-time APSA winner, Farhadi&...

My Hat and Me Lost in Occupied Territory Hebron. Here I am with sun hat while in Israel for Musivision's pitch for I Spy My Father. Chosen as the Canadian Delegation in Israel 16th Co-Pro Documentary Screen Market. . Me and my BIG hat. LOST IN "OCCUPIED" territories - my hat occupied most of the space this afternoon. Was a bit freaky. The hat not quite right...fearing for my life somewhat and still looking like a dusty shop window - funny in a paradoxical way - can we call Hebro...

The 61st Sydney Film Festival and Adelaide Film Festival announce a video-on-demand stream of the Australian feature film Fell direct from its World Premiere at Sydney Film Festival on Tuesday 10 June. Sydney Film Festival and Adelaide Film Festival will break with tradition and stream online the World Premiere Australian film Fell over the same weekend that it premieres in Official Competition at the State Theatre in Sydney. “Sydney Film Festival is pleased to offer audi...

left to right: Radical Evil, Geronimo, Yalom's Cure, The Treatment, Bridges of Sarajevo, The Unexpected Life European Film Promotion (EFP) presents six multifaceted European films with a high potential for the US market as part of its annual New York Industry Screenings. On June 24th and 25th the six selected films will exclusively be screened to US buyers and industry professionals in New York’s Tribeca Grand Hotel. T...

The 35th Durban International Film Festival announces Hard to Get for its opening night film The Durban International Film Festival (July 17 – 27) is extremely happy to announce that the opening film at DIFF 2014 will be Hard To Get from first-time feature director Zee Ntuli and produced by Junaid Ahmed and Helena Spring. The film tells the story of TK, a handsome young womanizer from a small community who falls for a sexy, reckless young thief named Skiets. Thrust into Joburg’s ...

DIE WÄLDER SIND NOCH GRÜN (The Woods Are Still Green) has been selected for the main competition section "The Golden Goblet Award" at Shanghai International Film Festival. World Premiere is on June 17th, 2014 in Shanghai. Screening - 13:30 at Hall 2 at Shanghai Film Art Center. The Press conference shall be hold afterwards at 15:30 at Hotel Crown Plaza Shanghai, 400 Pan Yu Road , Shanghai, SH 200052. http://www.woods-movie.com "We are very honored, that that out of...

New Artists Alliance (Cheap Thrills, Bad Milo) and XLrator Media (The Machine, CBGB) have just started production on the science fiction thriller, “400 DAYS” starring Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), Caity Lotz (Arrow, The Pact), Ben Feldman (Mad Men), Tom Cavanagh (Ed, The Flash), Grant Bowler (Defiance) and Dane Cook. Written and directed by Matt Osterman (Ghost from the Machine), the psychological sci-fi centers on four astronauts who are sent on a simulated mission to a dista...

The submission to the 7th Annual Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival has been accepted! The Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival is the first and biggest of its kind in Malaysia. Featuring award-winning international environmental films by renowned film makers, the Festival is a platform for all Malaysians to learn, be engaged and empowered to take environmental issues seriously. The Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Fest is NOT just about films - it is about empowering all Malaysians to take on a greener appr...

The year of film 2014 in Serbia passing slowly. There are couple more important Serbian festivals to go by the end of this year. For now, the most dominant festival is the International Film Festival FEST 2014. This year's 42d International Film Festival FEST in Belgrade brought big names to Belgrade: Coogan, Stephen Frears, Ralph Fiennes, Frank Nero, Patrice Leconte , etc. . Glamour above all the 42nd International Film Festival - FEST 2014 - this year introduced the achievem...

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Filmfestivals.com was established 1995 as world reference in this niche, we are proud of our track record in helping festivals attract more legitimacy, visibility and film submissions from our large base of international film professionals (370 000 unique filmmaker visitors each month), 159 500 subscribers to the newsletter. ONE TIME OFFER We suggest this quick one month booster program for your call for entry including with 4 newsletter ads, your call for entry promoted one month lon...

The ICFilmFest, the first touring festival of world class children's film programs, launches its festival season at the Albany Park Community Center. Two screenings on Thursday, June 26 at 4:30 and 6pm will showcase 21 films from 17 countries for children ages 4-12.

Two lively ICFilmFest shorts programs feature stories as diverse as a delightful romp through a Busby Berkely style set in Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks and a chuckling carnival full of clever monsters in Molly Monster: Circus. When a shy Australian girl gets some help eating her huge lunch, she achieves an unexpected goal in Play Lunch, and in Luminaris a disenchanted worker escapes his dull job at a light bulb factory with a high flight of fancy.

Children have the opportunity to vote for their favorite films immediately following each program. Their participation determines the winner of the "Best of the ICFilmFest" to be awarded to the film that receives the greatest number of votes.

ICMC Executive Director Nicole Dreiske comments, "The festival experience gives children the chance to start watching movies with critical thinking filters in place. It's fun and challenging to watch 21 films, knowing that you'll get to pick the festival winners."

The International Children's Film Festival is curated by Nicole Dreiske and presented by Albany Park Community Center in collaboration with the International Children's Media Center.

APCC Childcare and Youth Director Ahsan Akbar says, "The ICFilmFest is a great way to introduce children to global culture and the voting validates their preferences and observations. We're excited to make this program available to our families at the Albany Park Community Center."

Tickets (per screening) are free for Albany Park Community Center families and $5 for non-members. For more information call APCC at 773-539-5907.

Play Lunch, Australia Luminaris, Argentina

Albany Park Community Center ICFilmFest 2014 Schedule:

Thursday, June 26 at 4:30 pm

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

Ages 2-5 (60 mins)

Whether it's reaching for the stars or a cup of hot cocoa, friends are there to give the extra boost that makes everything worthwhile. Watch as a kind moon sees a little boy safely home, giggle at Molly Monster's special circus, and take a seat with Spot and Splodge as they learn the dentist isn't so scary after all. Circle of Friendsfeatures 12 films from 10 countries: Ballet of Unhatched Chicks (US), Knitting Girl: The Bridge (Taiwan), Snow (US), Pim & Pom: Around the World (Netherlands), Obetomo School: Magnet (Japan), Violoncello (Russia), Molly Monster: Circus (Germany/Switzerland/Sweden), Shoelace (Australia), Rainy Day Friends (Taiwan), Kind Moon (Iran), The Red Hen (US), and Spot and Splodge: "At the Dentist" (Sweden).

Thursday, June 26 at 6pm

Maybe It's Magic

Ages 8+ (78 mins)

The characters in this shorts program invite viewers to take a closer look and notice the magic in moments both simple and sublime. Explore dazzling ice caverns with Nokomi and hold your breath as a shy girl brings compassion to the playground, celebrate Claudio's creativity in Colored Pencils, and control the mysteries of time at the Tick Tock Emporium. Maybe It's Magic includes 9 films from 8 countries:pl.nk! (Norway/Poland), The Toboggan (Canada), Play Lunch (Australia), Luminaris (Argentina), In a Heartbeat (Iceland), Nokomi (France), Colored Pencils (Brazil), Eyes on the Stars (US), and Tick Tock Emporium (USA).

Twelve full-length films will compete in the International Competition for the main award of the 5th OIFF, the Golden Duke. The National Competition will comprise 13 short and 7 full-length films. Two Ukrainian movies will be featured in both the National and International competition: MY MERMAID, MY LORELEI directed by Nana Dzhordzhadze, and THE GUIDE, directed by Oles Sanin (World Premiere). Both films participated in last year’s “Work-in-progress” of the Festival.

«2014 is anniversary year for the Odessa International Film Festival», said the President of the Festival, Viktoriya Tigipko. «This year has been very difficult and at the same time momentous both for the country and every one of us. Our team is doing the very best for this festival to happen and be held on a top level. We have been supported in our aspiration by our colleagues: over 250 influential representatives of international film festivals, including Cannes, Berlin and Venice, have outspoken their support of our festival. Their support demonstrates that OIFF, during the five years of its existence, has exceeded the level of a national event and made its way to an international film festivals agenda.»

Peter Webber, an award-winning British director, producer and screenwriter, will be the Head of the International competition in 2014. His feature debut GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING, starring Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth, was nominated for three Academy Awards, two Golden Globes and 10 BAFTA Awards. Ukrainian director SergeiLoznitsa, the winner of OIFF-2012, whose film MAIDAN shook Cannes this year, Israeli actress JenyaDodina, Belorussian actress and director OlgaDykhovichnaya and French actor and critic Jean-PhilippeTessé will complete the Jury of the 2014 OIFF.

The National Short Competition will feature 13 films of different genres by debutants as well as veterans of Ukrainian cinema. Among the short films there will be three animation and two documentary films.

Reel Indie Film Fest

Deadline Fast Approaching

DEADLINE: JUNE 30

RiFF is looking for submissions for the 2014 edition of the festival. The companion festival to Indie Week, celebrates independent music and movies. Filmmakers and music makers are invited to submit their films (documentary, feature and short length) and music videos at http://www.reelindiefilmfest.com/apply.

RiFF offers filmmakers and musicians a one of a kind place to screen their films and network with industry professionals. “Selected films will capture music’s cultural and emotional impact,” says acclaimed producer and RiFF Executive Director, Avi Federgreen (One Week, Still Mine, Moon Point). “Last year we were fortunate enough to receive amazing films, which showcased a variety of musical tales both narrative and documentary. We are thrilled to see what filmmakers have in store for us this year.”

Successful submissions will be showcased before public and industry audiences October 14 – 19, 2014 in Toronto, a filmmaker’s mecca and media launch pad for some of the industry’s brightest young talent. RiFF is seeking films inspired by music in all its forms, films showcasing music and music makers and the rock and roll lifestyle.

Filmmakers are invited to submit independent short films, music videos, feature films or documentaries that are related to music, and were completed between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014.

Submission qualifications:

Films must have been completed between January 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014

About REEL INDIE FILM FESTIVAL
Reel Indie Film Festival (RiFF) is an independent film festival with a focus on music-related content. Launched in 2013 as part of the 10th anniversary of Indie Week. RiFF seeks to cover the gamut of musical inspiration, and to support filmmakers’ music-oriented stories, using music as a platform for one’s thoughts and beliefs. Films that capture the essence of a band or song. www.reelindiefilmfest.com

About INDIE WEEK Indie Week is an independent music festival founded in Toronto in 2003. Since its inception, Indie Week has grown to support 200+ bands from all over the world. The festival expanded to international waters with Indie Week Ireland in 2007. www.indieweek.com.

Produced by the Atlantic Film Festival, the 14th annual AFF Outdoor Film Experience – Illuminated by Emera presents “Summer of Sandra”. The free outdoor film series is paying tribute to Oscar winning actor, Sandra Bullock, and five of her hit movies will be shown on Fridays, from July 18 to August 15, on the Halifax Waterfront.

Projected on a 30-foot inflatable screen at the end of the Halifax Waterfront’s Tall Ships Quay (near the Halifax Seaport Farmer’s Market), the schedule of films is as follows:

Friday, July 18: Gravity, 2013, 90min (Rated PG)
Friday, July 25: The Blind Side, 2009,129min (Rated PG)
Friday, August 1: Miss Congeniality, 2000, 109min (Rated PG)
Friday, August 8: Speed, 1994, 116min (Rated 14A)
Friday, August 15: People’s Choice vote between: While You Were Sleeping, Two If By Sea, Two Weeks Notice, and The Proposal.
*Fans can vote here: atlanticfilm.com starting July 1st, until noon, August 8th. The winning film will be announced just before the Speed screening.

Once again, the event will proudly screen an Atlantic Canadian produced short film as part of each pre-roll. This is a joint presentation with CBC, called Summer Shorts.

"There is nothing quite like the magic that happens at the AFF Outdoor Film Experience, said Wayne Carter, Executive Director of the Atlantic Film Festival. “We have been overwhelmed at the level of attendance these past few years as people of all ages from all over the region join us for these free screenings. Sandra Bullock is without a doubt the biggest female movie star in the world and we are so excited to be celebrating her work.”

Talented local illustrator, James White created the design and directed the look and feel of all the “Summer of Sandra” program signage and promotional material. T-shirts will be available for purchase at each screening.

Those attending the AFF Outdoor Film Experience – Illuminated by Emera are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs for comfort. Concessions will be available on site.

Screenings start at dusk and gates will open one-hour prior. Please check for weather updates and cancellations at: atlanticfilm.com. There are no rain dates.

Thanks to Emera, all “Summer of Sandra” screenings are free all summer.

“Emera is thrilled to once again be partnering with the Atlantic Film Festival. The AFF Outdoor Film Experience has become such a popular event for our community,” says Chris Huskilson, President and CEO at Emera. “It means a lot to us to be able to provide support and offer a gathering place where people can enjoy movies and be part of this wonderful event”.

In addition to “Summer of Sandra”, the AFF Outdoor Film Experience is proud to also present the following movies in Halifax this summer:

Sunday, June 29: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, 1986, 103min (Rated PG) at Sunnyside Mall, Bedford as part of Bedford Days
This screening is both a “bring your own chair” and a drive-in movie

Tuesday, July 1: Despicable Me, 2010, 95min (Rated G) at Kinsmen Park as part of Sackville Patriot Days

Saturday, August 3: Princess Bride, 1987, 98min (Rated PG) at Ferry Terminal Park, Dartmouth as part of Natal Days, hosted by the Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission

Thursday, August 14: Il Était Une Fois Les Boys (When We Were Boys), 2013, 106min (Rated G) at Parade Square, City Hall, Halifax as part of The National Acadian Day Celebrations, hosted by the Conseil communautaire du Grand-Havre

Thursday, September 4: The Amazing Spider-Man 2, 2014, 142min (Rated PG) at Tall Ships Quay, Halifax Waterfront as part of the “End of Summer” series

Friday, September 5: The Lego Movie, 2014, 100min (Rated G) at Tall Ships Quay, Halifax Waterfront as part of the “End of Summer” series

Saturday, September 6: Frozen, 2013, 102min (Rated G) at Tall Ships Quay, Halifax Waterfront as part of the “End of Summer” series

*Admission is free and all screenings start at dusk with gates and concessions opening one-hour prior. Please check for weather updates and cancellations at: atlanticfilm.com

“Through the generous support of Emera and our other key sponsors we have been able to increase our Community Screening Program with more appearances in more places than ever before,” added Carter. “The AFF Outdoor Film Experience continues to grow beyond our Waterfront “Summer of…” program and we couldn’t be happier.”

The AFF Outdoor Film Experience is pleased to have the support of the following partners and suppliers: Emera, Halifax Seaport, Waterfront Development Corporation, CBC, Dimensions Entertainment, PODS, Starbucks, the Postman, Impact Communications, Discount Car and Truck Rentals and the Halifax Regional Municipality.

“The AFF Outdoor Film Experience is a wonderful summer tradition, an opportunity to spend an evening outside with friends, family and fantastic films,” said Mayor Mike Savage. “I encourage everyone to come out and see the stars, on the screen and in the sky.”

About the AFF Outdoor Film Experience

Who can resist a night under the stars with a classic movie and the smell of popcorn wafting through the air? Whether young or old, local or visiting, the AFF Outdoor Film Experience fits the bill for good times.

It’s outdoors. It’s movies. It’s an unforgettable experience!

For the past 13 years, on Friday nights from mid-July to the end of August, the Atlantic Film Festival has delivered an entertaining outdoor film experience throughout the Halifax Regional Municipality – a larger-than-life inflatable screen showing classic movies under the open sky. With as many as 2000+ movie-goers coming together for each screening – all toting their lawn chairs, blankets, picnics and favourite company – this open-air cinema has a unique festival atmosphere that must be experienced first-hand.

Our programmers are constantly dreaming up an engaging theme for the next series. In recent years, our Summer of … theme has been very popular. People are always trying to guess what it will be!

While the theme changes from one year to the next, the objective remains: to bring the community together; to enjoy the film viewing experience in unique outdoor settings; and to set the stage for the upcoming Atlantic Film Festival.

About the Atlantic Film Festival
The Atlantic Film Festival (AFF) is an eight-day celebration of film, media and music from around the world. It’s a festival that turns Halifax – a charming and historic coastal city – into an international Mecca for the arts, abuzz with filmmakers, industry types and film lovers. This year’s event takes place from September 11-18.

Offering a first-look at the best international films of the festival season, the AFF is a champion of local filmmakers, committed to bridging the gap. We attract some of the biggest players in film, media and music from around the world. All of our film selections are chosen with our community in mind and our special events are designed to bring us all together. A not-for-profit organization, the AFF depends heavily upon its strong ties to the surrounding and thriving arts community.

The Atlantic Film Festival began as a tiny, grassroots operation in St. John’s, Newfoundland in 1981, relocating to Halifax the following year. Just three decades later, the Atlantic film Festival has blossomed into one of Canada’s premier film festivals. Whether for industry folk, unabashed film lovers or curious onlookers, the Festival offers a slew of opportunities to engage through film. Today’s Atlantic Film Festival is now a year-round celebration, growing beyond our eight-day cornerstone event in September to include: ViewFinders: Atlantic Film Festival for Youth, AFF Outdoor Film Experience, and Strategic Partners.

71st Venice International Film Festival will take place 27th August to 6th September 2014

Director: Alberto Barbera

Alberto Barbera

Born in Biella in 1950. After graduating in Modern Literature with a thesis on the History and Criticism of Film, he began his collaboration with the AIACE (the Italian association of Friends of Art-House Films) of Turin, for which he served as president from 1977 to 1989. From 1980 to 1983 he was the film critic for the daily newspaper “La Gazzetta del Popolo” and since 1982 has been a member of the Order of Journalists, on the list of publicists. He has collaborated with many magazines, and has curated or participated in many radio and television shows for RAI.

In 1982 he began his collaboration with the Festival Internazionale Cinema Giovani (now the Torino Film Festival), first as a press agent, then as the Secretary General and member of the Selection Committee, from 1984 to 1988. From 1989 to 1998, he served as Director. From December 1998 to April 2002 he was the Director of the Venice International Film Festival. From 2002 to 2006, he was the co-director of “RING! Festival of Film Critics” in Alexandria.

Since June 2004 he has been the Director of the National Museum of Cinema in Turin. Since 2008, he has been President of the Advisory Board of TorinoFilmLab.

The 71st Venice International Film Festival, organized by La Biennale di Venezia, will run on Venice Lido from 27th August to 6th September 2014, directed by Alberto Barbera.

The aim of the Festival is to raise awareness and promote the various aspects of international cinema in all its forms: as art, entertainment and as an industry, in a spirit of freedom and dialogue. The Festival also organizes retrospectives and tributes to major figures as a contribution towards a better understanding of the history of cinema.

The line-up of the 71st Venice Film Festival will be announced as usual during the official press conference to take place at the end of July in Rome.

Our two days of Catalyst Screenings begin tomorrow afternoon. These film screenings will be followed by panel discussions between artists and political leaders about critical issues of our day. These stimulating 40-minute talks will be made up of documentary filmmakers as well as journalists and politicians.

Check out the AFI DOCS GoWatchIt channel! See where you can watch AFI DOCS movies when they are available on DVD, Blu-ray, online or On Demand. Also, add them to your queue to be notified as soon as they are available on additional services.

Ride to AFI DOCS for FREE. Sign up for Uber with promo code "AFIDOCS" & your first ride is FREE (up to $20, not valid on Taxi).

HOLLYWOOD IN THE DESERT SKY: A Conversation with Michael Childers
TO PREMIER
AT THE PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL
FESTIVAL OF SHORT FILMS

Hollywood In The Desert Sky, A Conversation with Michael Childers, will premier at the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films on Wednesday, June 18 at 2pm at the Camelot Theatre.

This short film is a glimpse into the iconic photographer's stories of his amazing works….with the likes of Andy Warhol, John Schlesinger, and much more.

Join Host/Producer/Director Mary Silverman as she weaves the audience through decades of Michael’s iconic works and listen for the amazing stories
that only Michael can tell!

Produced and directed by Mary Silverman, with and original score by film composer Harry Gregson-Williams. Silverman is the editor of the Desert Magazine, a monthly publication of The Desert Sun.
CV Studios Entertainment, Inc., provided production services.

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Little big chair in Haras Theatre Annecy - an optical feast full of illusions. How do you see it? The Haras Theatre in quaint centre ville Annecy was a buzz as the final prizes and special mentions were announced to a full house of festival goers and industry insiders. Annecy is the preemininent animation film festival was a super charged event lasting a full week. Non-stop films and networking opportunities at the glorious Inperial Hotel hugging the bord de lac d"Annecy. Annecy Fil...

The jury members had the delicate task of choosing among the competing films and bestowing 18 official awards, including the Cristal for short films and the Cristal for feature films. Check out the jury members for Annecy 2014. Feature films Luiz Bolognesi Director, Brazil Rhonda Richford Correspondent The Hollywood Reporter USA ...

This year, the Annecy Festival gave its Honorary Award to Isao Takahata, to celebrate his career and contribution to animation. Acclaimed filmmaker, this master of animation has created a number of master works including Grave of the Fireflies, Pompoko and My Neighbours the Yamadas. Along with Hayao Miyazaki and the Tokuma Shoten company, he also founded studio Ghibli, producer of such international successes as Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away and Th...

On June 7th, Iranian filmmaker Mahnaz Mohammadi was summoned by Sentence Enforcement Court of Evin Prison, in the North of Tehran, to be jailed, and the world took a little notice. This imprisonment is the last of a long line of troubles, wich begins with her arrest on June 27th 2011. At that time, The Film Disr...

The Los Angeles Film Festival, in conjunction with Presenting Media Sponsor the Los Angeles Times and Host Partner Regal Cinemas L.A. LIVE announced the jury and audience award winners for the 2014 Festival at the Awards Cocktail Reception. Actor Vincent Piazza of Jersey Boys was on hand to present the awards. The Awards Cocktail Reception was sponsored by Loyola Marymount University’s School of Film and Television. The Los Angeles Film Festiv...

The 27th Connecticut LGBT Film Festival concluded a successful nine-day run on June 7, with dual screenings in downtown Hartford at Spotlight Cinemas and the Wadsworth Atheneum that included special appearances by film writer/directors and actors. Hartford Mayor Pedro Segarra delivered welcoming remarks prior to the international premiere of Queen of Amsterdam. The other closing night film, Tru Love, took the top spot as the Audience Award winner for Best Feature Film. Audience awards are based ...

The 61st Sydney Film Festival wrapped on Sunday 15 June with the Australian Premiere of New Zealand vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows. The gala evening featured an introduction from filmmaker funny-men and stars Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement and closed with an unforgettable erotic vampire dance from fellow cast member Jonathan Brugh. The Foxtel Movies Audience Awards, SFF’s people’s choice awards, were today announced. Winner of the Foxtel Movies Audience ...

RIP Bingham Ray The Galway Film Fleadh 2014, which takes place this year from Tuesday, 8th July to Sunday, 13th July, has just announced the nominees for this year’s Bingham Ray New Talent Award. The nominees include rising stars in the areas of production, acting and directing. The winner of the 2014 Bingham Ray New Talent Award will be announced at the closing night awards ceremony, which takes place in the Town Hall Theatre on Sunday, 13th July. This year’s nominees are: ...

The nominees for the television, online and radio 2014 Rose d’Or were announced today by EUROVISION, organisers of the prestigious international entertainment programme awards. The winners will be decided at the 53rd Rose d’Or Awards ceremony which will be held in Berlin on 17 September. The Rose d’Or Awards define the gold standard of excellence and achievement in television, online and radio entertainment progra...

The Sheffield Doc/Fest 2014 awards, presented by Jeremy Hardy, were announced this morning at The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield. The awards for 2014 announced today were: Special Jury Award, Sheffield Innovation Award, Sheffield Green Award, Sheffield Youth Jury Award, Sheffield Student Doc Award, Sheffield Short Doc Award, The Tim Hetherington Award and the first ever Peter Wintonick Award which celebrates activist filmmaking, in honour of the late Canadian documentary filmmaker and friend of the...

The JCC in Manhattan's Israel Film Center Festival highlighting the top new Israeli premieres opens tonight, June 12 at the DGA Theater with the NY premiere of the comedy Hunting Elephants which stars Sir Patrick Stewart as well as many of Israel's top actors, and is directed by Reshef Levi, who will introduce the film. The Red Carpet Opening Night event will honor classic Israeli megastar Yehoram Gaon wit...

The 61st Sydney Film Festival’s prestigious awards were announced during the Closing Night Gala at the State Theatre tonight. Before the awards were announced, NSW Minister for the Arts, Troy Grant said, “Sydney Film Festival is a highlight of the city’s rich arts calendar and plays an important role in the local and national film industry. The New South Wales Government, through Screen NSW and Destination NSW, is proud to support another successful year for the Fest...

> PARTNERS NEWS

VFF is proud to announce that its Call for Entries for our 2015 film festival is now open! Earlier is better! (And cheaper.) Send in your entries to the 2015 VFF before the Earlybird deadline of July 9th. Additional Deadlines are: Regular postmark deadline: August 7th, 2014 Late postmark deadline: September 11th, 2014 Extended Deadline: September 17th, 2014 As always, we recommend submitting as early as possible and we set our fees to reflect this...

The Arab Film Festival is now accepting submissions for the 18th Annual Arab Film Festival to be held in the San Francisco Bay Area in October 2014. AFF annually showcases works by independent filmmakers that provide insightful and innovative perspectives on Arab people, culture, art, history and politics.
The Arab Film Festival is the largest independent annual showcase of Arab films and filmmakers in the country. The festival has an international standing and is considered one of the most important Arab film festivals outside the Arab world. AFF strives to present the best contemporary films that provide insight into the beauty, complexity and diversity of the Arab world alongside realistic perspectives on Arab people, culture, art, history and politics. To submit please visit the Call for Entries page.
Late Deadline June 13

The Vancouver International Film Festival has long been one of the largest and most successful film festivals in North America. Last year, 341 films played on nine screens in seven venues. By the time our 16-day festival had wrapped, 130,000 attendees had been dazzled by the top films from more than 75 countries. Plus: VIFF offered$19,500 in cash prizes plus another $25,000 in services and prize packs to filmmakers as part of five adjudicated awards. The 2014 festival promises to be even more spectacular!

> THE FESTIVAL CIRCUIT

HOLLYWOOD IN THE DESERT SKY: A Conversation with Michael Childers TO PREMIER AT THE PALM SPRINGS INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF SHORT FILMS Hollywood In The Desert Sky, A Conversation with Michael Childers, will premier at the Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films on Wednesday, June 18 at 2pm at...

71st Venice International Film Festival will take place 27th August to 6th September 2014 Director: Alberto Barbera Alberto Barbera Born in Biella in 1950. After graduating in Modern Literature with a thesis on the History and Criticism of Film, he began his collaboration with the AIACE (the Italian association of Friends of Art-House Films) of Turin, for which he served as president from 1977 to 1989. From 1980 to 1983 he was the film critic for the da...

ODESSA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL 5th EDITION (JULY 11 – 19, 2014) Twelve full-length films will compete in the International Competition for the main award of the 5th OIFF, the Golden Duke. The National Competition will comprise 13 short and 7 full-length films. Two Ukrainian movies will be featured in both the National and International competition: MY MERMAID, MY LORELEI directed by Nana Dzhordzhadze, and THE GUIDE, directed by Oles Sanin (World Premiere). Both films participate...

The ICFilmFest, the first touring festival of world class children's film programs, launches its festival season at the Albany Park Community Center. Two screenings on Thursday, June 26 at 4:30 and 6pm will showcase 21 films from 17 countries for children ages 4-12. Two lively ICFilmFest shorts programs feature stories as diverse as a delightful romp through a Busby Berkely style set in Ballet of the Unhatch...

> PEOPLE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Documentary Edit and Story Labs One of 10 Summer Labs the Institute will Lead for Independent Artists in Film and Theatre Park City, UT — Sundance Institute today announced the selection of 20 Fellows representing eight documentary film projects to participate in the 2014 Documentary Edit and Story Labs, June 20-28 and July 4-12 at Sundance Resort in Sundance, Utah. These are part of 10 residential Labs hosted by Sundance Institute this summer, collectively representing 15 weeks of resid...

From July 1 2014 Bas van der Ree (1957) will head the Netherlands Film Commission, a new division of the Netherlands Film Fund. The Netherlands Film Commission was launched in May 2014 at the International Cannes Film Festival alongside the new Netherlands Film Production Incentive. The simultaneous launch marked an integrated approach to the positioning of The Netherlands as a viable international production partner. The Netherlands Film Commission serves as the mai...

Telluride Film Festival, presented by National Film Preserve LTD., is thrilled to announce its 2014 Guest Directors, Guy Maddin and Kim Morgan. The husband and wife team is set to select a series of films to present at the 41st Telluride Film Festival running over Labor Day Weekend, August 29 – September 1, 2014. The Guest Director program is sponsored by Audible.com. Festival organizers annually select one of the world’s great film enthusiasts to join them in the creation o...

John Sloss (born 1956) is an entertainment lawyer and film sales agent, who has executive produced over 50 films including the Academy Award-winning The Fog of War and Boys Don't Cry. Other credits include Bernie, City of Hope, Friends with Kids, A Scanner Darkly, Far From Heaven, and Before Sunrise. Through his companies Sloss Eckhouse LawCo and Cinetic Media, he has facilitated the sale and/or financing of films such as Lee Daniels' Precious, Napoleon Dynamite, The Kids Are All...

The Odessa International Film Festival (July 11 - 19, 2014) announces first guests and presents insights on its non-competitive program. Awards for films in development, presented at the Industry Office, have been raised. The Film Market for Ukrainian Films will be held from July 14 to 17, 2014. STEPHEN FREARS RETROSPECTIVE The honorary guest, Stephen Frears, will receive a Golden Duke for his contribution to motion picture arts during the festival’s Opening Ceremony. A retrosp...

By Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent What do John Updike and Fran Lebowitz have in common? They both discovered James Thurber, American humorist, at age 10. You will find this out by watching James Thurber: The Life and Hard Times, directed by Adam Van Doren, released June 17 on iTunes (also for sale as DVDs) from First Run Features. This visual non-guilty pleasure is teamed with co-incident releases, Top Hat & Tales: Harold Ross and the Making of The New Yorker (also ...

> FILM TO WATCH .

by Quendrith Johnson, Los Angeles Correspondent If you saw Margot at the Wedding (2007), you know Jennifer Jason Leigh has lately developed incredible charm and depth, but in director Jane Weinstock's new movie The Moment, she is outstanding. Her performance as Lee, the divorced war photographer who spirals into post-traumatic distress with psychotic aspects, is nothing short of clinically brilliant. When Leigh as Lee says "I can't trust what I am seeing," ...

Sundance Institute announced a significant expansion of its renowned labs for independent artists to include dedicated support for writers and creators of series for television and online platforms. The first Sundance Institute Episodic Story Lab will be held in Fall 2014 at the Sundance Resort in Sundance, Utah. Building on the Institute’s 30-year legacy of developing new work from storytellers with distinctive and risk-taking stories, this new initiative addresses the need for more opportun...

Sundance Institute today announced the 12 independent films that will make their digital debut this spring through a variety of platforms and storefronts, via the Institute’s Artist Services program, which provides artists supported by the Institute with exclusive opportunities for creative self-distribution, marketing and financing for their work. Titles began premiering today, and will roll out through June 3. For details visit sundance.org/nowplaying. Titles will be available on a vari...

Ida is a film that posits fundamental questions while seeking their answers prudently. The movie synthesised transformation schematics with a mystical tale of identity and confidence; this combination secured its triumph at this year’s Gdynia Film Festival. From a very early age, the title characterIda (Agata Trzebuchowska) lived in a monastery. Upon deciding to become a sister of mercy, she must first make the acquaintance of her only living relative before taking her vows. ...

> STRICTLY BUSINESS

Filmfestivals.com was established 1995 as world reference in this niche, we are proud of our track record in helping festivals attract more legitimacy, visibility and film submissions from our large base of international film professionals (370 000 unique filmmaker visitors each month), 159 500 subscribers to the newsletter. ONE TIME OFFER We suggest this quick one month booster program for your call for entry including with 4 newsletter ads, your call for entry promoted one month lon...

The Palm Springs International ShortFest is best known for its award-winning film shorts, but each year the Festival also welcomes a long guest list of filmmakers and industry attendees for the ShortFest Forums and Panels. Two Master Classes feature indie film guru and Fandor CEO Ted Hope discussing his film experiences, as well as director Allison Anders join her daughter Tiffany Anders to talk about music in film. Prominent industry figures from Anonymous Content, CAA, CSA, ICM Partners, Karga Seven Pictures, Nickelodeon, Participant Media, Preferred Content, Sundance Film Festival, TNT, Tribeca Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival and other organizations participate in four days of ShortFest Forums covering a wide range of emerging trends and new practices in the global film community. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Festival takes place June 17-23, 2014.

“The ShortFest Forums have grown into an extraordinary gathering of industry professionals, all ready to meet and mentor our new class of emerging filmmakers,” said Festival Director Kathleen McInnis. “We are so excited to bring together so many people at ShortFest, which every year generates new relationships and projects.”

“We have so many returning industry guests to help us celebrate our 20th Anniversary,” said Director of Industry Relations Christina Sasse, “Our distinguished industry guests come back each year because the ShortFest Forums are as inspiring for them as they are for our filmmakers. They love coming to our “summer camp for filmmakers” and some of them really enjoy making it into a boot camp!”

The schedule for today, June 21st, at ShortFest includes:

11:00 a.m. Meet the Programmers - Easily our biggest panel of the ShortFest Forums – both on the stage and in the audience – these worldwide festival programmers share their inside secrets, offer tips and advice, and tell it like it is when you are submitting your film to their festivals. A great way to meet the gatekeepers and tastemakers you want in your film life!

1:00 p.m. The Players-Part I: The Business - A panel of agents, managers, producers and press discuss the current and future state of the business of filmmaking: from buying and selling, to commercialization and franchises, and marketing to a demographic, these top players will discuss the trends they see today in the business of film that affect/effect the filmmakers of tomorrow."

3:00 p.m. The Players-Part II: The Art - This panel of distinguished tastemakers, gatekeepers and content creators discuss the health and welfare of the art of world cinema: does it all “start with story”, is there room outside the box for a new-new wave of cinema (and if so, do we call that Television), who are the “fresh” voices and where do they find their audience?

Panel only tickets are available to the public for $11 each; Master Class tickets are $12. All ShortFest Forum programs are presented free to accredited filmmakers participating in ShortFest and its concurrent Short Film Market. Tickets can be purchased by calling (760) 322-2930 or visiting www.psfilmfest.org.

About Palm Springs International ShortFest

Designated by AMPAS as an award-qualifying festival, and accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the Palm Springs International ShortFest and its Short Film Market is the largest and most prominent short film showcase in North America. The Festival and its concurrent 3,000-plus title Film Market continue to serve as a scouting ground for new filmmaking talent and are well attended by those in the business of buying and selling short films.

The Palm Springs International ShortFest is supported by an ever-growing number of new and longtime sponsors with local, national and international prominence. The Title Sponsor is the City of Palm Springs with Presenting Sponsors The Desert Sun and Spencer’s. Major Sponsors include: Ignition, Panavision, Stampede Post Productions, Smart Source Rentals, the Hard Rock Hotel, the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitor’s Bureau, KQED San Francisco, the Casting Society of America, Nickelodeon and The Australian Consulate General in Los Angeles. The official host hotel and media center is the Renaissance Palm Springs. More information is available online at www.psfilmfest.org

The Taos Shortz Film Fest continues screen global world class cinema and to provide filmmakers with a venue to showcase their work, participate in workshops, panels, and network with fellow filmmakers, media companies, producers and distributors.

By Maria Esteves – June 22, 2014
First Time Fest 2014: The Second Time Around (FTF 2014) Opening Panel Women in Entertainment with celebrity panelists Brooke Shields, Carol Alt, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Rosie Perez moderated by Village Voice Anna Merilyn commenced Thursday, April 3, 5:00 PM at NeueHouse, New York. Presented by Royal Bank of Canada and hosted by NeueHouse, these amazing women discussed progress in recent years for women in the entertainment industry from working conditions as models to health and nutrition to discrimination and salaries.

Questions posed to celebrity panelists by moderator Merilyn included: What was the working condition like for models when you started out? How often in a casting process do you encounter directors or producers who only want you to read for just a really stereotypical role? International filmmakers, industry professionals, festival patrons and celebrity guests were in attendance.